Scene XVIII: The Parker-Nichols house later that week.

(Jennie is sitting on the couch with her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around herself in the bedroom crying. Drake is trying to comfort her, but she wont talk to him. He's really worried, but she keeps pushing him away. Josh comes home from work and sees them.)

Josh: Uh, hey guys. What's going on?

Drake: (Getting up and speaking quietly with Josh) I don't know. I found her in her car at Starbucks crying and brought her here. She won't talk to me. She hasn't stopped crying since I found her.

Josh: Maybe Megan or Mindy could talk to her. Maybe she needs to talk to a girl. Maybe even Mom.

Drake: Maybe. I really can't imagine what could be so horrible that she wont tell me about it. All I think she's done today was go to work. I don't even think she ate anything. She just keeps crying.

Josh: Wow. That's scary. Let's go ask Mom to talk to her or something.

Drake: Okay.

(They go downstairs to find Audrey, leaving Jennie upstairs crying on the couch.)

Drake: Hey Mom. You're a girl. Do you ever just cry?

Audrey: Well yes. Sometimes. Why?

Drake: I found Jennie at Starbucks in her car today. She was crying. I brought her here, and she's still up in my room crying. She won't talk to me at all.

Audrey: Wow that sounds serious. She won't talk to you? That's pretty scary. Maybe she'll talk to me.

(Audrey goes upstairs and Drake and Josh follow. Megan heard the commotion and followed. A few seconds later, Jennie is faced with a proverbial firing squad.)

Audrey: Jen, honey, what happened?

Jennie: I don't want to talk about it. It's too horrible. Please don't make me talk about it.

Drake: But we're really worried about you.

Audrey: If something happened we want to help.

Megan: Yeah, I don't like seeing you upset.

Jennie: Okay. Can I speak to Drake alone please?

Josh: Sure, come on guys let's give her some space.

(Audrey, Josh and Megan leave the room.)

Drake: Are you going to tell me about it?

Jennie: My friend Paula invited me over to her place after work. So I went. Well we got there, and her brother was there. We had some food and I was having a good time. But then Paula got sick from something she ate.

Drake: And you're upset because she got sick?

Jennie: No. Paula ended up puking in the bathroom for half an hour. So I was sitting there not knowing when she was coming back out, and thinking I ought to make sure she was okay before I left. But then her brother came on to me. And I thought, okay, it's just harmless flirting. I told him I had a boyfriend. That wasn't a good enough answer for him though. He…he…I can't talk about it.

Drake: Did he hurt you?

Jennie: He ra…ra..I can't say it. It's horrible.

Drake: He raped you? (She nods.) Oh man, I'm going to kill him. What kind of imbecile does something like that? Look you have to tell my mom. She'll know what to do.

Jennie: You tell her. I can't talk about it.

Drake: Alright, come with me.

(Drake gently takes Jennie downstairs to Audrey and tells her every detail he knows.)

Audrey: Oh honey, that's terrible. Look, I know you don't want to talk about it, but we have to take you to the hospital. You have to get checked out.

Jennie: The hospital? No way. I don't want more total strangers invading my personal space.

Audrey: But they need to get DNA samples so you can press charges.

Jennie: Press charges? I can't. What if he comes after me? He could hurt me again. I just want this to be over.

Audrey: And the sooner you do something about it, the sooner you can get closure. If you put this man behind bars he can't hurt you.

Jennie: Did you know that for a crime like that he'll only get three to five years? What if he comes after me five years from now seeking revenge for putting him in prison? I don't want to worry for the rest of my life about whether or not he's looking for me for five years of freedom.

Audrey: I can see where you're coming from, but I really think you should report this. The law protects innocent people. You have done nothing wrong.

Drake: I can't believe there are people like this out there. I really do want to hurt this man.

Audrey: Now Drake, we don't want you to get arrested for assault, do we? Let the law take care of it. That's what it's designed for.

Drake: But Mom, this guy is a jerk.

Audrey: I know but I want you to promise me you wont hurt him. I don't want you to get in trouble.

Drake: Yes Mom.

Audrey: Now Jennie, can we take you to the hospital now?

Jennie: Yes ma'am. I'll go. Will you call my mom? She'll want to know about this.

Audrey: Of course I will. Do you want to go by your place first and pick anything up?

Jennie: Why? Do you think I'll be there for a long time? I just want to get it done with.

Audrey: No I'm sure it wont take that long. You'll be okay. I promise.

Jennie: Are you kidding me? Do you think I'll ever forget something like this? It was horrible. I'm so scared. What if something like this happens again? What if I was going around looking like an easy target? How do you expect me to ever get past something like this?

Audrey: Oh, sweetie, I know it was horrible. But it will get better. If you ever need to talk I'm here.

Drake: Me too. We will always be here for you if you need to talk. If you need me, I'm a phone call away. Even if it's 3:00 in the morning, don't be afraid to call me. Okay?

(Megan walks in.)

Jennie: Okay. Let's go.

Megan: Where are you going? Are you okay?

Audrey: We're taking Jennie somewhere. Don't worry about it, okay?

Jennie: No. Don't protect her because you think she's too young to hear about it. What if this happened to her? Look, Megan. Your mom and Drake are taking me to the hospital. Someone hurt me and I have to get checked out, okay?

Megan: Okay. Do you want to take one of my stuffed animals with you? It might make you feel better.

Jennie: Aw that's sweet, Megan, but I don't think so. Thank you for caring, though.

Megan: I just hope you are okay.

(They leave for the hospital.)